News

Multi-functional kiosks to sell tickets in India

May 8, 2011

The hassle of standing in never-ending queues to purchase platform tickets may soon be a thing of the past for Indian travelers.

Accoring to the The Hindu, The Mysore Division of the South Western Railway is likely to introduce multi-functional kiosks with an additional facility to dispense platform tickets at the city station.

Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Anup Dayanand Sadhu told the newspaper that the initiative followed a decision by the Railway Board to phase out the standalone coin-based ticket vending machines.

"The board wants to replace these machines with an integrated system that will enable us to account for the sale of platform tickets in real time," Dayanand sai.

The regional office of the Centre for Railway Information Systems [CRIS] is hosting a prototype and is waiting approval from CRIS headquarters in New Delhi, according to the story.

The model integrates platform ticket dispensation services with a complaint system, allowing passengers to register grievances. The kiosks will also be connected to the centralized National Train Enquiry System to provide travel information to passengers.

"The Mysore Division suggested integration of the three services. This will not only save manpower but will provide the public a hassle-free system for purchasing platform tickets," Dayanand said.